Everyone Loves an Allotment

Want to enjoy a taste of the Good Life.....first consider growing food on an allotment, where gardeners pay a small membership fee for land that is sub-divided for non-commercial gardening. This traditionally has been associated with retired men, but today, there are a new breed of allotment holders, planting more ambitious crops and reclaiming often neglected open spaces. Many women are spearheading this grow your own movement. Space may be limited, but you will only need determination to turn your plot into a productive unit, saving you money as well as providing you with fresh fruit and vegetables.

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Photographer: Mark Johnson

The first thing to do is to test the soil, and bring in some organic matter such as muck, compost or seaweed if you really want a productive garden.  Then decide on fruits or vegetables and start dividing your beds. You will need some garden tools like trowels, spades, forks, hoes, dibbers, pruning knives and a watering can. Deep beds are an effective method of producing vegetables in a small space. Be prepared to find tree roots and stones, but hopefully you won't need a pickaxe. Once the beds have been created, you can add some paving slabs or wood which allow you to cultivate and harvest more comfortably. Warm concrete also acts as a deterrent for the slugs, especially if you sprinkle them with a little salt occasionally. The warm slabs also help keep off frosts and maintain a better soil temperature during the cooler months. 

Then sowing, planting and pest control. Rotate your crops to prevent disease from building up. Try a four year rotation programme which will suit gardens in a temperate climate. Climate is all important so find a chart that shows when to sow, plant out, hoe and harvest for your area. Even in the winter months, you can build and repair your fences and equipment, knowing that you have stored a good supply of food, for those dark winter months.